Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating age-related neurodegenerative condition with no known cure. Identifying early mechanisms of the disease and approaches to prevent AD are among the most important priorities of global biomedical research.

Dr. Auwerx and colleagues at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne in Switzerland, revealed that people with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease have characteristic changes in their brain mitochondria. Dr. Auwerx and colleagues demonstrated that in development of the disease, mitochondrial energy output is reduced and the mitochondrial stress response, which normally recycles damaged mitochondrial proteins, is inactivated. Reasoning that mitochondrial function might be restored by molecules such as NAD+ that are limiting to energy production, Dr. Auwerx tested NR, a recently discovered vitamin and effective NAD+ booster. Dr. Auwerx showed that AD mice treated with NR had lower degrees of amyloid deposits, improved mitochondrial energy production and improved memory.

Remarking on Dr. Auwerx’s discovery, Dr. Rudolph Tanzi, the Vice-Chair of Neurology and Director of the Genetics and Aging Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of ChromaDex commented, “We’ve long been fascinated by mitochondrial changes in AD pathology and have been intrigued with the possibility of a bioenergetic deficit in AD. Work published today clearly justifies testing NR in the context of mild cognitive impairment.”

Dr. Charles Brenner, the Roy J. Carver Chair and Head of Biochemistry at the University of Iowa and the Chief Scientific Advisor of ChromaDex continued “given the preclinical data and the human safety data that are coming out, we’re thrilled to have additional well vetted applications where we can test NR to improve the human condition. By combining novel imaging modalities with NAD metabolomics, we expect to see multiple opportunities to test NR as a neuroprotective agent in people in coming years.”

ChromaDex leverages its complementary business units to discover, acquire, develop and commercialize patented and proprietary health and wellness consumer products and ingredient technologies that promote healthy longevity. In addition to our consumer product and ingredient technologies units, we also have business units focused on natural product fine chemicals (known as "phytochemicals"), and product regulatory and safety consulting. As a result of our relationships with leading universities and research institutions, we are able to discover and license early stage, IP-backed ingredient technologies. We then utilize our in-house chemistry, regulatory and safety consulting business units to develop commercially viable ingredients. Our consumer product and ingredient portfolio are backed with clinical and scientific research, as well as extensive IP protection. Our portfolio of patented ingredient technologies includes NIAGEN® nicotinamide riboside; pTeroPure® pterostilbene; PURENERGY®, a caffeine-pTeroPure® co-crystal; IMMULINA™, a spirulina extract; AnthOrigin®, anthocyanins derived from a domestically-produced, water-extracted purple corn husk, and ChromaDex’s flagship consumer product TRU NIAGEN™, found at truniagen.com. To learn more about ChromaDex, please visitwww.ChromaDex.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended including statements related to results of the study and its significance related to Alzheimer’s disease and the possibilities as a neuroprotectant. Statements that are not a description of historical facts constitute forward-looking statements and may often, but not always, be identified by the use of such words as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "potential", "possible", "probable", "believes", "seeks", "may", "will", "should", "could" or the negative of such terms or other similar expressions. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in this release due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in ChromaDex's business. More detailed information about ChromaDex and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in ChromaDex's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, ChromaDex's Quarter Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings submitted by ChromaDex to the SEC, copies of which may be obtained from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and ChromaDex undertakes no obligation to revise or update this release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

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